June 04, 2013

Free says he, Cowboys both got what they wanted, that he's happy, and that competition from Parnell improved him

Doug Free took a pay cut to stay with the Cowboys, but he said, “I
think both sides got what they wanted out of it.”

The veteran lineman accepted a two-year deal worth half his
former salary when he re-signed with the Cowboys last month. But he said he is
happy and striving to improve.

“I’m happy, yeah,” he told reporters Tuesday after an OTA
practice at Valley Ranch. “Got to be. Got to stay positive and keep working
hard. ... I don’t want to look at the business part and the money part. I just
like playing football, and that’s what I like to do.”

Free said he expects competition for his job at right tackle
again this year, and he credited it for helping him improve late last season
when he split snaps with Jermey Parnell.

“I think any time you get challenged by something, one way or
another, you’re either going to get stronger and play better or get weaker and
play worse,” he said. “I think last year, the competition definitely improved
my game and kind of helped me focus.”

Offensive line coach Bill Callahan said he and Free have worked
on improving the angles he takes in pass protection and in studying opponents
more closely.

“We’ve studied a great deal of rushers on film and what they’ve
done and the type of moves they’ve given to him and that he’s seen,” Callahan
said. “So we’ve done a considerable study of all the repertoire of things that
have broken down his game. We’ve also shown him some of the highlights and some
of the positives that he’s done, too, cause he’s done a lot of great things.

“Obviously there’s some mistakes that we’re working hard to
improve. But he does have talent. He’s a good foot athlete. He’s a smart guy.
He’s a strong guy. If we can just minimize some of those errors and help him
out a little bit better as a coaching staff, I think we’ll be a better
offensive unit all the way around.”